INVESTIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN PARTY POLITICS IN DELTA STATE

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the factors that limit women’s participation in politics, focusing on the Ukwuani local government of Delta state in Nigeria. It examines the cultural, historical, and institutional barriers that hinder women’s engagement in politics. The study utilized field surveys and questionnaires, employing simple random sampling. This study reveals the perspective theory of Liberal feminism. It reveals that women’s inferiority complex and exclusion from mainstream politics in Nigeria are due to male dominance, which relegates women to subordinate roles. Most women find the political landscape to be too risky to enter mainstream politics in Nigeria because of the country’s thuggery and gangsterism mentality. Institutional structures that confine women to domestic duties, along with a lack of affirmative action to promote women’s political participation, have created a legacy that restricts women’s involvement in politics in the Ukwuani local government area. Furthermore, the high cost of elections also plays a role in limiting women’s participation. The study emphasizes the need to address the issues that perpetuate women’s subordination in Nigerian politics. It highlights the importance of implementing the Nigerian constitution’s provisions for affirmative action and reforming laws and practices that contribute to women’s subordination. It is therefore recommended that; there should be creation of political awareness, providing resources, training and support for women who are interested in running for political office can help to increase their participation, taking steps to address help to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women, high cost of election should be minimized, policies should be put in place to encourage women into politics